First Look: Colt Delta Elite Rail Gun

The original Colt Delta Elite came about just a few short years after the Bren Ten launched the 10mm Auto into existence. It was considered to be the first firearm chambered in 10mm produced by a major manufacturer, and many credit it with saving the 10mm from obscurity. Colt ceased production of the Delta Elite for some time, but several years back the company reintroduced it, and even more recently, it tinkered with the gun, creating a redesigned pistol.

Now the American manufacturer is further improving on its Delta Elite by bringing out a version with an accessory rail. The new Colt Delta Elite Rail Gun offers serious stopping power for hunters or shooters in an accessory-ready platform.

The accessory rail is an obvious improvement to the Delta Elite and will be useful to many shooters.

“The Delta Elite started its life as tactical option for 1911 enthusiasts who required more stopping power than your traditional .45 ACP,” said Justin Baldini, Product Director for Colt. “In that world, an accessory rail makes a lot of sense. What we’ve seen, though, is that this is a great platform for hunting pig or other medium sized game. In those types of scenarios, proper illumination is critical, so I think hunters will really appreciate the ability to add on their favorite rail-mounted lighting.”

While attending Colt’s Media Day event at Gunsite this past November, I was able to get a first hand look at this new Delta Elite before it was released, and it definitely seems well suited to either of those applications. With an unloaded weight of 38 ounces and an overall length of 8.5 inches, the Delta Elite Rail Gun handles the 10mm’s substantial recoil quite well, and the gun comes with all the same great features built into Colt’s current Delta Elite. These include things like an upswept beavertail safety, an extended thumb safety that’s quick and easy to engage and disengage, and a classy and durable all-stainless steel construction with a brushed stainless finish.

As with most of Colt’s recently introduced pistols, this one comes with Novak’s excellent sights. The front is a Novak white dot, while the rear is Novak’s genuine Low Mount Carry. The great sights paired with an equally good three-hole aluminum trigger with a pull weight of between 4.5 and 6 pounds make for a pistol with great accuracy potential. Although I don’t generally shoot a lot of 10mm Auto pistols, I still managed to be fairly accurate with the gun, ringing the steel targets that Colt had setup downrange.

Colt did not have any accessories mounted on the new Delta Elite Rail Guns used at the event, but I can definitely see where the forward rail might be beneficial to tactical shooters or to hunters in the field. Of late, quite a few people have been using semi-auto pistols chambered in 10mm to go after pesky hogs due to their power and their quick follow-up potential, and an attachment, such as a laser sight or a light, could definitely be beneficial in those pursuits in states where permitted.

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Drew Warden is the Managing Editor of Gun Digest the Magazine. His articles have appeared in Gun Digest the Magazine, Guns & Ammo special publications and online at Guns & Ammo and Shooting Times. He is an avid upland bird and waterfowl hunter, but his firearm interests vary from modern tactical guns like the AR-15 to classic historical and military surplus firearms as well.